Toy-propelling means.



J. F. TIERNEY.

TOY,PROPELL|NG MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 24. 1917.

Lza'mm, Patented Fb.19,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A TTOR/VE x f 1. F. TIERNEY.

TOY PROPELLING MEANS.

APPLICATION FlLEbSEPT-Q'L I917.

1,257,151. Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: .33

A Tram/1 Prion.

JAMES F. TIERNEY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA TOY-PROPELLING MEANS.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flled September 24, 1917. Serial No. 192,921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James F. TIERNEY a citizen of the United States, residing at ndianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Toy-Propelling Means, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to" the accompanyin drawings and to the letters and figures 0 reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to means to be'used with water for propelling various types of movable structures that may operate in or above a body of water, the invention having reference more particularly to means for propelling the smaller classes of structures commonly known as toys, such as boats, merry-go-rounds, or other vehicles that may be guided on tracks.

An object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means for propelling structures in or above water, wlthout involving complicated machinery or mechanism requiring more or less expert attention for operation and repairs with consequent expense.

Another object is to provide improved toy-propelling means that may be substantially constructed and not be liable to become impaired because of long use or lack of care and careless handling.

A further object is to provide improved toy-propelling means which shall be so constructed as to be efiicient, not dangerous to the unskilled and which shall be durable and economical in use.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a double-action engine adapted to utilize water as a means of propulsion, all of novel construction and arrangement; and, the invention consists also further in the novel parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boat, partially broken away, provided with the improved propelling means; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the boat equipped with the invention; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the engine or principal structure of the improved propelling means constructed in a form suitable for application to a boat or other vehicle; Fig. 4 is a top plan of Fig. 3 partially broken away; Fig. 5 is a section on the line VV on Fig.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

3; Fig, 6 is a longitudinal central section of the prlncipal elements of the engine; Fig. 7 is an elevation, partially broken away, of a merry-go-round provided with the invention to 1llustrate the propelling means as applled to a structure guided to move above a body of water; Fig. 8 is a top plan of Fig. 7 partlally broken away; Fig. 9 is an inverted plan View of the rotary platform or turn table of the merry-go-round provided with the improved engine; and, Fig. 10 is a plan of the improved engine slightly modi- {led to adapt it for actuating a rotary strucure.

On the different figures of the drawings, like reference characters indicate correspondmg elements or features of construction herein referred to.

Qne of the elements necessary to the operatlon of the improved propelling means is a body of Water 1 and in some cases the 1nvent1on 1s applled to a boat to float in the water, a simple form of boat suflicient to an understandmg of the invention being illustrated and comprising a hull 2 provided W1th a keel 3 and also a deck 4 having a removable section or hatch 5. The hull has a horizontal lamp-holder 6 therein on which a lamp 7 is removably supported so that it may be removed for re-filling after removmg the section 5 of the deck, the lamp havmg a suitable burner 8. The lamp and burner may be such as is commonly provlded for the burning of alcohol for heatmg purposes.

The improved engine comprises a suitable boiler which preferably is constructed as a hollow cylinder so as to constitute a combined boiler and cylinder structure 9, provided with suitable closures or heads 10 and 11 in the opposite ends thereof. As preferably constructed, the closures are made separately as heads and secured to the cylinder, one head having a central aperture'or opening to constitute a duct 12 and having a valve seat 13 at the inner end of the duct. The opposite head 11 has a similar duct 14 and a valve seat 15. A suitable valve is provided which is adapted to automatically act to close the ducts alternately, the preferred form of valve being a spherical valve 16 that is nearly as large in diameter as the interior of the cylinder. 9 in which the valve freely rolls between the valve seats. Two conducting pipes are provided, one pipe having a straight portion 17 that is secured to is readily accessible when the platform is the cylinder is horizontally supported in the boat with its middle portion above the burner 8 of the heating lamp, the boiler or cylinder 9 being above the level of the body of water. In such case the pipe has a downwardly extendin inclined portion 21 continuing from the pipe portion 20 and through the bottom of the hull of the boat at one side of the keel, the pipe having a terminal portion 22 extending from the mclined portion so as to be approximately horizontal. The other pipe comprlses an inclined portion 23 extending from the straight portion 18 and a terminal portion 24 extending from the inclined portion, the latter extending through the bottom of the hull at the opposite side of the keel. The terminal portions of the pipes are arranged conveniently close together so as to discharge rearwardly with respect to the boat and preferably the pipes are secured to the keel by means of clamps 25 and 26.

As explaining the application of the invention to a structure that is guided above a body of water, a merry-go-round is shown which comprises a tank having a bottom 27 and a circular side wall 28 to hold a body of water 1, the upper portion of the 'wall having a circular track 29 above which a rotary platform or turn table 30 is arranged and. provided with a center shaft 31 that extends into the water and is centered on a center plate 32 on the bottom of'the tank, the under side of the platform bein provided with rollers 33 to run on the trac when the table is slightl tilted.v The platform or turn table is'suitab y equipped with seats or articles 34 characteristic of the well-known amusement device. 7 The under side of the platform 30 carries'a suitable holder 35 which removably supports a lamp 7 having a'burner 8' which lifted from the tank. The cylinder 9 is supported under the platform by means of; hangers 36 with the middle portion of the c linder above the lamp burner. One end of t e c linder is provided with a conducting pipe aving the straight portion 17, the return-bend 19 and reach portion 20, and for the resent purpose the pipe has a downwardly extending laterally curved portion 37 continuing from the pipe portion 20 and from which extends a terminal portion 38.

The opposite end of the cylinderiis provided with a conducting pipe having the straight portion 18 from which extends a downwardly extending curved portion 39 from which a terminal portion 40 extends. The terminal portions of the pipes are brought conveniently close together and arranged so as to discharge. conveniently 70.. close to the side wall of thertank and in one In practical use, a flame is produced at i the burner of the heating lamp and caus'es as the water is ejected 'from the pipe into the surrounding body of water, re-action taking place in the cylinder or boiler which brings the valve to the opposite seat and the boiler to become heated. The valve bepermits water to flow in behind it through the other pipe, the water becoming heated as in the first instance and subsequently ejected through the pipe in which it was admitted, the repeated alternating pulsations afi'ording sufiicient force to propel the structure forward.

Havin thus described the invention, what is c aimed as new is 1. Toy-propelling means including a boiler, two conducting pipes connected with different portions of the boiler, means for heatin the boiler, and a valve movable in the boiler to automatically act'to close or. open the two conducting pipes alternately.

2. Toy-propelling means including a pressure-retaining boiler having two conducting pipesextending from difierent'portions of the wall thereof and to a terminal position and arranged to discharge in one direction, and a valve movable in the boiler 'to' automatically control the discharge from the boiler through the pipe alternately.

- 3; Toy-propelling means including a hollowcylmder, two conducting pipes connected with the of the cylinder an extending to a terminal .position to discharge in one direction, each pipe bein provided within. the cylinder with a va ve seat, and a spherical valve in the cylinder to roll to the-valve seat of each one of the pipes alternately.

opposite ends respectively- .4. Toyropelling means including a hollow cylindrical boiler havin two conducting pipes connected therewit the inner naeaim guided in the boiler between the valve seats to close either one of the pipes.

5. Toy-propelling means including a boiler having two openings and valve seats at the openings, a valve movably guided in the boiler between the valve seats and adapted to close either one of the openings, and two ipes connected with the openings respective y and having their outer ends in cooperative arrangement to discharge in one and the same direction.

f 6. Toypropelling means including a hollow cylinder having a head in each of its two ends, each head having an opening and a valve seat at the inner end of the opening, two pipes connected with the openings in the heads respectively and extending therefrom in opposite directions, one of the pipes havinga return-bend and extending thence in the direction of the remaining one-of the pipes, the outer ends of the pipes being arranged to discharge therefrom in one direction, and a spherical valve movably guided in the cylinder between the heads thereof to the valve seat and close either one of the openings in the heads;

7. A toy comprising a movable body to be associated with a body of water, a hollow cylinder horizontally supported by the movable body, two COIIdHCtIDg/PlPGS connected with the opposite ends respectively of the with a heater for convertin cal valve in the cylinder to roll alternately to each one of the valve seats.

8. The combination with a toy structure adapted to be movably guided in association with a body of water, of a boiler stationarily connected to the toy structure and provided water into vapor in the boiler, two con ucting1 pipes connected with different portions of t e wall of the boiler to conduct the water alternately into and out of the boiler, and means automatically, actin on operation of the heater to control 1: e flow of the water through the pipes.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. TIERNEY.

Witnesses:

O. L. CHAMNESS, E. T. SILVIUS. 

